Intense, Specialized Training in Youth Athletes Linked to Serious Overuse Injuries

April 22, 2013

MAYWOOD, Ill. - Young athletes who specialize in one sport and train intensively have a significantly higher risk of stress fractures and other severe overuse injuries, even when compared with other injured athletes, according to the largest clinical study of its kind.

For example, young athletes who spent  more hours per week than their age playing one sport – such as a 12-year-old who plays tennis 13 or more hours a week – were 70 percent more likely to experience serious overuse injuries than other injuries. More